Hong Kong government on Thursday strongly condemned the attempt made by politicians of the United States Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) to seek sanctions on prosecutors from the Department of Justice.
A government spokesperson reiterated that the prosecutors have been fulfilling their righteous duties of administering justice independently and impartially. "No one is above the law. Cases will never be handled any differently owing to the political beliefs or background of the persons involved.”
"Our prosecutors act strictly in accordance with a longstanding international practice that the decision to prosecute will only take into consideration the admissible evidence to justify instituting proceedings and the applicable law,” he added.
CECC has called for Washington to impose sanctions against Hong Kong's new Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok and 15 public prosecutors for "political prosecution" of activists.
In a staff research report released by the CECC last Wednesday (July 13), it said: “if Hong Kong’s Justice Department and prosecutors continue to expand arbitrary detention and political prosecutions, the United States and the international community should consider taking targeted actions to address the erosion of the rule of law, including additional sanctions.”
The Hong Kong government spokesman continued to stress it is trite that safeguarding national security falls within the internal affairs of a sovereign jurisdiction, and hence the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law should be free from any intervention.
“The US's arbitrary and unreasonable bullying act has demonstrated disrespect for the rule of law, seriously violated international norms and grossly interfered in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs at large."
"Our prosecutors act strictly in accordance with a longstanding international practice that the decision to prosecute will only take into consideration the admissible evidence to justify instituting proceedings and the applicable law,” he added.
CECC has called for Washington to impose sanctions against Hong Kong's new Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok and 15 public prosecutors for "political prosecution" of activists.
In a staff research report released by the CECC last Wednesday (July 13), it said: “if Hong Kong’s Justice Department and prosecutors continue to expand arbitrary detention and political prosecutions, the United States and the international community should consider taking targeted actions to address the erosion of the rule of law, including additional sanctions.”
The Hong Kong government spokesman continued to stress it is trite that safeguarding national security falls within the internal affairs of a sovereign jurisdiction, and hence the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law should be free from any intervention.
“The US's arbitrary and unreasonable bullying act has demonstrated disrespect for the rule of law, seriously violated international norms and grossly interfered in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs at large."